Involvement of Forest Officials with tree smugglers suspected

H.D. Kote: Following complaints of timber theft in Nagarahole Wildlife Sanctuary Division, a team of Forest Department officials, led by Chief Conservator of Forest (CCF) Narayanaswamy, Forest Mobile Squad and others, inspected various areas of the Forest Division in the taluk yesterday.

Villagers allege that the Forest Department Officials are hand-in-glove with the timber smugglers. Thieves had cut off eight to ten Saguvani trees worth lakhs of rupees at Kallahalla-Gudihalla at Sorekoppe Beat in Metikuppe Wildlife Division three days back.

During their inspection, Officials, who spotted more than 8 Saguvani tree logs measuring 8 to 10 cubic feet (CFT) and 2 to 3 CFT, have seized the wooden logs and registered a case.

Though similar incident of Saguvani timber theft was reported from Metikuppe Beat-2 in Metikuppe Wildlife Division 15 days ago and the matter was informed to the Assistant Conservator of Forests of Antharasanthe Wildlife Division through a letter in the name of Agasanahundi villagers, no action has been taken so far.

Local people are now openly criticising the failure on the part of the Forest Department staff and Anti-Poaching Camps to check the increasing timber theft in the Metikuppe Wildlife Division.

Public have also suspected the role of Saw Mill owners of the town in forest trees theft and demanded the Senior Officials of the Department to check such cases.

Speaking on the occasion, CCF Narayanaswamy said that his Department officials had raided the spot when the thieves were transporting the timbers after cutting down the trees at Kallahalla-Gudihalla in Sorekuppe Beat.

The thieves had cut down nine Saguvani trees and the Department officials have seized the cut tress but had failed to arrest the thieves.

Prima facie, negligence of some Forest officials was found and their connivance with tree thieves suspected, the CCF said and added that he has already given directions to the Assistant Conservator of Forests of Antharasanthe Range to investigate and submit a report to him. After getting the report, errant officials will be suspended,  he warned.

Forest Officer Santhosh Hugar said that a case has been registered in this regard and the Department is assessing the value of stolen timber. The Department will take all steps to nab the tree thieves, he added.